Friday, February 1, 2013

DRIVER CLEARED IN WRECK THAT KILLED TEEN – A Wise County grand jury Wednesday returned a no bill in the case of Ralex Griffin, 24, of Arlington who was charged with criminal negligent homicide following an accident May 25 of last year that killed Alvord teenager Aisha Bryant. Bryant, 16, was struck from behind by Griffin’s vehicle on U.S. 81/287 as she was headed to work in Decatur. She was killed, and Griffin was arrested at the scene. A no bill means the grand jury determined there is not adequate evidence to warrant criminal prosecution in the case.

SMITH GETS 6 YEARS FOR THEFT - Angela M. Smith, 34, of Paradise pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft between $100,000 and $200,000 and was sentenced to 6 years in state jail. Investigators said Smith was the office manager for several years at Cobb Rental and Equipment in Decatur and allegedly stole more than $100,000 from her former employer over a 29-month period from January 2009 to June 2011. Smith also pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery of a financial instrument and a charge of credit card or debit card abuse and was sentenced to 15 months in state jail for those charges. The sentences will run concurrently.

PET VACCINATIONS – Wise County Animal Shelter is having a low-cost vaccination clinic for cats and dogs 10 a.m.-noon tomorrow at the shelter, 119 PR 4195, just off Farm Road 51 South in Decatur.

SUPPORT GROUP – The Grief Support Group meets 6 p.m. Monday at the Wise Regional Health System West Campus (old hospital). Enter at the far left hand side of the building. The group meets the first Monday of every month. For more information call Laura Tanner at (940) 626-2973.

JANUARY RAINFALL – Wise County actually received higher-than-average rainfall for the normally dry month of January. Weather watcher Doyle Green of Decatur measured 3.32 inches for the month, well above the 1.84 average amount for January but well below the record 6.04 inches we saw last January. Temperatures in the month ranged from a high of 77 on Jan. 29 to a low of 20 on Jan. 16.

SINGING PERFORMANCE – Chuck Crain of the Presley’s Country Jubilee in Branson, Mo., will sing for the evening services of Grace Baptist Church in Decatur 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

CANCER BENEFIT – Eat at Chili’s today through Sunday and 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

FUNERALS – Service for Billy L. Grantham, 59, of Bridgeport is 2 p.m. Saturday at Balsora Baptist Church with burial at Boonsville Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.

SERVICE for Mason Lynn Orbison, 82, of Rhome is pending at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.